Method of producing packaged ice



April 16, 1935.

M. T. ZEIGLER METHOD OF PRODUCING PACKAGED ICE Filed April 10, 1933 b m If 0 2" TDENE'YS.

April 1935- M. T. ZEIGLER 1,997,620

METHOD OF PRODUCING PACKAGED ICE Filed April 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIIVMTUJ jri 1:

if TUENEYE JQXWELL IZEJELER Patented Apr. 16, 1935 METHOD OF PRODUCI-NG PACKAGED ICE Maxwell T. Zeigler, Huntington lark, cans, ass'ignor, by mesne assi nments, to Zeigler Packaged Ice Machinery Corporation, Huntington Park, Calif a corporation of California Application April 10, 1933, Serial No. 665,348

' 90mins. (Clk62 l72) This invention relates to a method of produc for in producing the pieces of uniform weight ing packaged ice, and may he considered'a conhaving their common dimension which will entinuation in part of my pending application Seable them to be packaged by machine and vended rial No. 554,141, filed July 30, 1931, entitled Methby machine.

0d of. packaging ice. Ihave proposed marketing "Another object of the invention is to provide a '5 ice in packaged form, .that is, manufactured ice method of wrapping blocks of ice, which blocks is to be cut up into pieces of suitable weight and have one common dimension but which have two wrapped in a sheet of wrap-ping material. In other-dimensions which may vary. The improved this way it is possible for me to vend ice in ice method of wrapping is such as to render it suitl0 vending machines and the consumer may purable to being performed by machine yet regard chase a package of ice at the vending machine less of the two variable dimensions neatly and and on transporting it to his residence will be/.- closely wrappedpacka'gescf ice will be produced. amply protected from the melting on the surface With the foregoing and other objects in view, by the surrounding paper wrapper. Also the which will be made manifest in the following paper wrapper affords a suitable friction surf-ace detailed description, and specifically pointed out 15 by which the package .may be picked up, which in the appended claims, reference is had to the friction surface is not afforded by thebare ice. accompanying drawings for an illustrative em- The wrapping paper also acts somewhat as a bodiment of the invention, wherein:

heat insulator and prevents sunlight from 'enter- Fig. 1 is a front view in section illustrating the ing the ice which, if permitted for a considerable manufacturing of the ice. 20

period of time, causes the interior of the ice as Fig. 2 is aside view in section illustrating the well as the surface to melt. manufacturing of the ice.

. Most ice as now manufactured is produced by Figs. 3 and tare front and side views, respecfreez'ing water in tapered ice cans or receptacles tively, of the block of ice obtainedand illustrating and on defrosting obtaining from these tapered in dotted lines the manner in which the block is ice cans tapered blocks 'of ice. I have designed divided. anice wrapping machine-as'disclose'd in my Figs. 5, '6, '7, 8' and '9, illustrate steps in the copending application Serial No. 554,142, filed wrapping operation which finally produces the July 30, 1931; and an ice vending machine, as package.

90 disclosed in my copending application Serial No. Fig. =10 is a plan view --il1ustrating the assembly 529,105, filed April 10, I931. In wrapping the of preferred machines'employe'd in carrying out ice by means of the ice wrapping machine it is the method of producing packaged ice. highly important that the small marketable :pieces Referring to the accompanying drawings, allha've one common dimension This uniformwherein similar reference characters designate ityin this common dimension is also highly ime similar parts throughout, l0 designates a con- 35 portantin vending ice in an ice vending machine ventional ice freezing can, the front and back suchasis disclosed in my 'appl-icationabove men'- walls as well as the side walls being tapered as tion'ed. is conventional. The taper in these figures is It is an object of this invention to provide a illustrated slightly exaggerated in order to clearflovel methodidf p oducing packaged ice which 1y show that the conventionalfreezing can has 40 consists primarily of manufacturing the ice in the a decided taper which is necessary in removing conventional tapered ice cans, thus obtaining tathe frozen block of ice after the water H has peied blocks, and then dividing these blocks with been frozen therein. From the can 11) there is a wastage into smaller pieces of un'iobtained the :block l2 which, as is-shown slightly form weight having one commondimension, and exaggerated in Figs. 3 and 4, has a downward then wrapping these individual pieces, productaper. For purposes of clarity the front and packages whichcan be easily vended in my back sides 13 and [-4 will hereinafter be desigice vending niachirie. It is important that the natedas the faces of the block, while the narrow small pieces be of uniform weight so that a pl'irsides l5 and 16 will bev :designated as merely chaser may rely on receiving a given number the'sides as distinguished therefrom, and the 50 of pounds of ice for his purchase price. top and bottom surfaces constituting the ends The invention more specifically concerns the of the block. As will be noted from an inspecdividing of the tapered block of ice such a tion of 'Figure 4, the faces 13 and I4 converge manner that there will bevery little waste and downwardly as well as the sides l5 and IS. The

' that the taper of the block will be compensated. problem is todividetthis block in such a manner as to produce smaller blocks or pieces of uniform weight and having one common dimension so that it can be wrapped and vended by machinery. To accomplish this, the block I2 is first cut into elongated strips. This may be accomplished by means of the ice cutting machine disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 572,966, filed November 4, 1931. If performed by such machine, the block is first ripped on dotted lines I1, 18 and I9.

Referring now to the plan view of the machines preferably employed in carrying out the improved method as shown in Figure 10, the ice cutting machine is diagrammatically indicated by the reference character 20. This machine has a gang of ripping saws indicated at 2|, 22 and 23. The block I2 is positioned on a conveyor not shown on this figure, with its large end foremost. As it is pushed through the saws by the longitudinally running conveyor, saws 2| and 23 remove the side tapers and cut the block upon the lines l1 and IS. The center saw 22 rips the block upon the line I8. These side tapers, which are removed by ripping the block on lines I! and I9, are'the only portions of the block that are wasted and inasmuch as these tapers are on the narrow sides of the block as distinguished from its faces, it will be appreciated that this amount of wastage is quite small. Dotted line I8 is equidistant from lines I! and I!) so that the two strips 24 and 25 have equal widths. After the block has thus been divided into the two strips, the longitudinally running conveyor carries these strips onto a transversely running conveyor, which is not shown on Figure 10, which serves to convey the strips through a gang of cross cut saws indicated at 26. These saws as well as the ripping saws cut entirely through the block and divide the block upon transverse lines 21 21, 21, 21 and 21 These cross cut saws are not equidistant from each other and consequently the various transverse lines are not equidistant. They are so spaced as to divide the strips into small pieces of equal Weight. Due to the taper emphasized in Figure 4, pieces 39* and 30 will have the greatest height and pieces 30 and 30* will be slightly shorter. Likewise pieces 30 and 30 are shorter than 31] and 30. Pieces 30 and 30 are shorter than 30 and 30 but slightly taller than 3!! and 30 Pieces 30 and 30 are the shortest. This slight decrease in height from bottom to top compensates for the slight increase in width due to the taper shown in Figure 4 so that the pieces are of uniform weight. Inasmuch as the saws cut entirely through the block, finished flat cut surfaces are formed on four of the six sides of each small piece. In this way the small pieces produced will all have a uniform weight and will have one common dimension indicated at two places upon Figure 3 by the reference character 38. This common dimension will be in a direction parallel to saws 26 as the. blocks are cut thereby. They are discharged onto a longitudinally running conveyor 39 with the common dimension at right angles to the direction of movement of conveyor 39. The heights of the blocks will vary and their thicknesses through will vary depending upon the location from which the individual pieces have been cut from the large block 12.

The blocks or pieces thus obtained from the ice cutting machine may be wrapped or packaged in the ice wrapping machine disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 554.142. To

this end there is provided an ultimate conveyor 40 running in a transverse direction adjacent the end of conveyor 39. Preferably a suitable turning mechanism, not disclosed herein, is interposed between conveyor 39 and the ultimate conveyor 40 so that as the blocks pass from conveyor 39 onto conveyor 40 each block will be turned so as to dispose the block on the conveyor 40 in such a manner as to cause it to rest on a freshly out side. The uniform dimension will remain parallel to the direction of movement of conveyor 40. The purpose of turning these blocks in passing from conveyor 39 to ultimate conveyor 40 is due to the fact that the faces of the block may not be perfectly formed. Sometimes these faces are perfectly flat but usually they are slightly concave. If the blocks were merely allowed to be transferred from conveyor 39 to ultimate conveyor 40 without turning, the concave faces on certain blocks which are more noticeable than on others would prevent the formation of an even line of blocks on the conveyor 40. Turning the blocks, however, so as to cause them to rest on a freshly out side, causes the blocks to rest evenly on the conveyor and to line up properly thereon.

Conveyor 40 is a divided conveyor, the righthand-most portion of which is power driven. The left-hand-most portion 4i need not be power driven and is provided with a stop 42. The power driven portion carries the blocks in longitudinal alignment against the stop so that the blocks are crowded together in end to end relation. The uniform dimension being parallel to the length of ultimate conveyor 40, each block will occupy a space of predetermined and uniform length on the conveyor.

The ice wrapping machines, as disclosed in my copending application No. 554,142, may be either used singly or in a bank. A bank of three machines is shown on Figure 10, the machines being indicated by the reference characters 43, 44 and 45. Briefly. each machine consists of a suitable platform 46 surrounded by pivoted or hingedly connected folding plates 41. Paper from a supply roll 48 is drawn across the platform and a suitable length is cut of! by a mechanism not shown on Figure 10. A withdrawing mechanism, not shown, withdraws a block from ultimate conveyor 40 onto platform 46 over the piece of paper positioned thereon, after which the side folding plates 41 proceed to fold the paper up about the block as shown in Figures 5 to 9. By having the blocks of uniform dimension positioned on ultimate conveyor 40 with the uniform dimension parallel to the length of movement of ultimate conveyor 40 and crowding these blocks against stop 42, it will be noted that as the blocks all have equal dimensions that the block which is before a wrapping machine will be in a predetermined position so as to be capable of being engaged properly by the withdrawing mechanism and drawn onto platform 46. Also on being positioned on platform 46 each block will be perfectly centered with respect to the platform and with respect to the sheet of wrapping paper positioned thereon. The uniform dimension will be running from right to left as viewed in Figure 10 and as the paper is withdrawn from the roll 48 across platform 46 from right to left, each piece of paper can be cut to uniform dimension.

The first steps in wrapping the block are to fold up the sides of the paper, which is indicated at 49, as shown in Figure 5. These sides dimension 35. These inwardly folded rojecting persons 'ofthe sides are indicated at 56 and o'n Figure 6, thus forming projecting ltop .fiaps Bland 53 and projecting bottom flaps and 55. The "projecting top: flaps 52 and 531 are then foldedgdownwardly against the ends of the block and the bottom flaps 54 and 55 are folded up wai'dly-thereover; During this upward folding or the bottom flaps adhesive is applied such as by rollers on themachine, one of which is indicated at 56,- mounted on levers 51. These rollers are dipped into an adhesive 58v and kept in reservoirs 59. After the adhesive is applied by. these rollers and the bottom flaps 54 and 55 are folded upwardly suitable pressing mechalifimi not, .S LQWB. a Which a preferably heated press the bottom flaps against the folded ends of: the package. When heated these pressng mechanisms cause adhesive to permeate the fiben'of the paper and to set quickly. The paper'eniployedneed not be waxedpaper nor any paper whichis rendered waterproof and preferably the-ice cutting and ice wrapping machines areall located in a room maintained at a temperature below freeiing -so that all operations are conductedin an atmosphere which will not cahse the-ice to melt. It will be noted that in preserving a uniform dimension on all blocks that the blocks can be suitably handled on conveyors and properly positioned thereby 'before each wrapping machine of a bank of wrapping machines. Also this uniform dimensionenables the cutting of a uniform piece of paper for the wrapping operation and inasmuch as all folding operations take place against the ends of the block which define the uniform dimension, the various folds or end flaps will be of substantially uniform size and shape enabling the formation by machine of a tightly and neatly wrapped package regardless of the fact that the two other dimensions besides the uniform dimension 38 may vary slightly.

The uniform dimension is important in other respects. If the packages are to be dispensed through vending machines, the construction of the vending machine is greatly simplified by having these uniform dimensions of the blocks present. Blocks having non-uniform dimensions either require the construction of a complicated vending machine to take care of their various sizes, or there is a tendency for the blocks to jam therein so that they will not feed properly from the vending machine.

The uniform dimensions at 38 are also important in stacking these blocks for storage purposes. Inasmuch as four of the six sides of each of the small blocks are freshly cut sides, which are fiat, stacking is facilitated by the presence of the uniform dimension which is very important in being able to build a stack of stored blocks to any considerable height.

It will be appreciated that the improved method not only causes a minimum of waste to be made in reducing the tapered blocks to smaller pieces but it also enables the invention to 'be praictic ed wherever ice is manufactured in tapered-ice cans,

is new the conventional ractice N0 alin its interior. The packages are transported by the truck in this condition to the vending machine and placed therein and the vending ma chine has its interior kept at a subfreezing' atmo'sphere. The blocks delivered by thevending machine are delivered at a temperature below that of the freezing point of water. consequent ly colder ice is delivered to the customer which is in dry packaged form. There is no opportunity for the blocks to melt and soak up the wrapper prior to delivery and the consumer in transporting the ice to his home is protectedby the dry paper wrapper, which also acts slightly as a heat insulator, and prevents light from entering the block, which light tends to warm up the interior of the block. When the consumer deposits the block in his refrigerator; it is intended that the paper wrapper be removed.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. The method of dividing a tapered block of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice, into smaller blocks suitable for wrapping which consists of longitudinally and transversely dividing ing at least two opposite sides parallel and of uniform distance apart.

2. The method of dividing a tapered block of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice, into smaller blocks suitable for wrapping which consists of rendering the two opposite sides parallel, longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width, and transversely dividing a block so as to produce smaller blocks each having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart.

3. The method of dividing a tapered block of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice, into smaller blocks suitable for wrapping which consists of rendering the two opposite sides parallel, longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width and transversely dividing the block upon unequally spaced parallel lines so as to produce smaller blocks of substantially equal weight having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart.

4. The method of producing packaged ice from tapered blocks of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice which consists of longitudinally'and transversely dividing the block on parallel lines so as to remove the tapers from two .opposite sides and to produce smaller blocks of substantially equal weight having at least two opposite sides parallel and of uniform distance apart, wrapping each smaller block individually and in so doing causing the final folding oper- In marketing the packaged ice; it

ations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

5. The method of producing packaged ice from a tapered block of ice obtained from freezing water in a tapered ice can in the artificial manufacture of ice, which consists of rendering the two opposite sides of the block parallel, longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width, transversely dividing the block so as to produce smaller blocks each having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart and wrapping each small block individually and in so doing causing the final folding operations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

6. The method of producing packaged ice from a tapered block of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice which consists of rendering the two opposite sides of the block parallel, longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width, transversely dividing the block upon unequally spaced lines so as to produce smaller blocks of substantially equal weight each having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart, wrapping each small block individually and in so doing causing the final folding operations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

7. The method of producing packaged ice from tapered blocks of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans, in the artificial manufacture of ice which consists of longitudinally and transversely dividing the block on parallel lines so as to remove the tapers from two opposite sides and to produce smaller blocks of substantially equal weight having at least two opposite sides parallel and of uniform distance apart, wrapping each smaller block individually and sealing the wrapper and in so doing causing the final folding and sealing operations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

'8. The method of producing packaged ice from tapered blocks of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice which consists of rendering two opposite sides of the block parallel longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width, transversely dividing the block so as to produce smaller blocks each having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart, wrapping each smaller block individually and sealing the wrapper therefor and in so doing causing the final folding and sealing operations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

9. The method of producing packaged ice from tapered blocks of ice obtained from freezing water in tapered ice cans in the artificial manufacture of ice which consists of rendering the two opposite sides of the block parallel longitudinally dividing each block into strips of uniform and equal width, transversely dividing the block so as to produce smaller blocks of substantially equal weight each having at least two opposite faces parallel and of uniform distance apart, wrapping each smaller block individually and sealing the wrapper therefor and in so doing causing the final folding operations to take place against the parallel sides which are of uniform distance apart.

MAXWELL T. ZEIGLER. 

